(Photo: Garland Cannon)
It was just past 5pm EST in Manhattan, and I’d been on pins and needles all day.
The report was coming in any minute. All attempts to nap earlier, despite two hours of sleep, had failed. There would be no rest on this Wednesday.
Now, in the lobby of the ACE Hotel, a few friends — including my agent, Steve Hanselman, my assistant, Charlie Hoehn, and my brother from another mother, Chris — had gathered with me to drink champagne. No matter the outcome, it had been a hard-fought battle over three years. THREE YEARS. Hospitalizations, surgeries, you name it.
I stared at the floor, reciting the reasons why things could go right. Most of them were silly and superstitious. Then my internal devil’s advocate chimed in with the reasons other books would beat me: better retail placement, celebrity authors, dedicated TV shows, etc.
“It’s here.”
I looked up. Steve smiled and handed me his Blackberry:
#1: The 4-Hour Body…
The 4-Hour Body had hit #1 on The New York Times bestseller list, on the hardest list (Advice, How-To) during the hardest week of the year.
I was in shock for the rest of the evening.
THANK YOU
For the rest of the night, as my friends fed me shots, I thought back to 2007, when The 4-Hour Workweek was turned down by 26 out of 27 publishers.
Everything that I’ve experienced in the last three years is thanks to you. I learn more from you than I could ever teach.
Much more to come soon (including a detailed post-game analysis of the launch), but — for the time being — I’ll keep it simple: THANK YOU.
I love you all.
May you and yours have the most joyous of holidays. Now, I need to get to wine and chocolate with the family… 🙂
Merry Christmas! 2011 is going to be the best year yet for all of us!
Un abrazo grande,
Tim
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
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Well done, Tim!
I was uber surprised to see how huge the book was when it came in. You did a ton of great work. Merry Christmas 🙂
Congrats Tim! Perhaps you will be in the Big G book next year, what a record!!
Can’t wait to get my 3 copies in oz, they should be arriving real soon. Got my copy of four hour work week in Bali last September…. Loved every second of it, wished I found it sooner. 2011 is going to be my four hour work year with hopefully a four hour body to go with the new lifestyle too….. Cheers to ya!
Tim: Bought a copy for my husband. Listening to your podcast interview on Robb Wolf at the same time.
Good work and congrats!
Deb
Congratulations! You’ve definitely earned it!
I’m waiting to receive the book by mail any day now. It’s gonna make 2011 take off with a blast. Can’t wait to read it!
Have a magnificent year, and don’t forget to keep us posted.
Thumbs up from Denmark
Congratulations, Tim, and Merry Christmas!
Like so many others, I am really enjoying the book, as well. So, I’d like to throw a “thank you” right back at ya 🙂
Thank you!
Bought this for my big bro who’s rehabbing from a foot injury right now. I know he’ll be 100 times stronger in just a few short months after reading this book. You rock, Tim.
HELL YES.
Congratulations Tim!
And THANK YOU for sharing the fruits of your labor with us.
Congratulations, Tim!
Two amazing accomplishments, your new book and being #1 on the list, in one holiday season. You show us how things can be done. Amazing.
Merry Christmas! 2011 will definitely be a good year for you.
Best wishes to your family.
David
Congrats Tim! Fantastic job well done!
Your journey and ultimate manifestation have really been an inspiration!
Now I hope your done w/ the poking holes in your body 🙂
Hey Tim!
Congratulations on your book becoming a #1 best seller! I am voraciously devouring your book, and loving it. I’ve told a bunch of people about your book, have given several for Christmas gifts and am trying some of the recommendations from the book.
Merry Christmas and here’s to your continued success!
Teri
Congrats, man! You deserve it! The book is fantastic and it deserves to be at the top.
2011 is going to rock.
Your book came out right at the end of my finals and just in time for me to spend a whole month experimenting. I’ll be damned if I’m not 10 pounds stronger by next semester.
Also, my prediction for your next book is the 4-hour brain/mind. I was surprised to not see a lot of information in this book on the plethora of memory, cognition, and skill-acquisition techniques that are prevalent on this blog and all over the web.
Congratulations Tim! Well done!
I cant wait to read your book and hope it will arrive in New Zealand soon!
Merry X-Mas to you and your family!
I hope you have everything you wished for!
Lots of love,
Angela
Dear Tim,
Congratulations on your success! While sitting here with friends dininking wine and discussing your book, we wondered if you are planning on releasing any 4HB apps? It would be great to be able to download an app for the exercises for the gym ect. I have yet to finish the book but so far excellent content!
Cheers,
Heather
PS- Excuse my wine talking grammar.
Thank you for the awesome books Tim. Although we have never met, you have helped me to carry out the most significant changes in my life. Wish you a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year!
You seem to speak spanish… so…
Muchas felicidades Tim.. el libro es un exito total… Gracias…
Feliz Navidad Y Prospero Año Nuevo
Hope to see much more of your work in the future….
Best Regards.
Merry Fucking Christmas! Thanks for the gift.
Awesome!! I knew you can do that.
I’m from Malaysia and I LOVE LOVE LOVE your works!!
Felicidades Cabron!!!!!!!!! jajajajajajaajjaa!!!! Mi vieja es una doctora general, top 10% del pais al carajo, y aun asi dice que tus recomendaciones no valen chicote… Yo lehare ver que eso no es cierto!!! Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!
Desde 1ro de enero, ahi te vere al tiro Tim Fierroooowwwwww!!!!!!!! jajajaja!
THANK YOU, Tim, and grats. My (adult) son gave me your first book, which has been a tremendous inspiration for me to make some positive changes in my life, so guess what he’s getting for Christmas, LOL? My sons- in- law will be getting it also, and I’m looking forward to improving my own health with your research. It was an honor to be able to be a tiny contributor to your well- deserved #1 placement!
Hooray! My purchase wasn’t in vain (though whether or not it hit number 1, I still have enjoyed the book, I hope my friends do too…because I got them all copies!)
Merry Christmas and congrats!!!
Congratulations Tim. It’s because men like you climb mountains so massive that the rest of us can dream to.
Awesome! Congrats.
Congratulations and thank you! Just as 4HWW inspired much of my last year the 4HB helps setting some of the new goals this coming year. You are well deserved of all applauds and cheers.
Congratulations, Tim! Happy Holidays and Thank You!
Tim, I was initially a skeptic of your work and achievements, but the more I see it; you are just a bloody honest chap who gets what he aims for and is not ashamed to admit it. You are not going to cover it up with corporate/polite b.s. and initially it seems abrasive, but certainly not any more!
It’s brilliant to see your success and inspiring too.
Thanks for sharing and I’ve loved specific blog posts so much it’s on my direct list for friends (the learn a language one) as well as others. Cheers!
Enhorabuena Tim!!! Sin duda lo mereces.
Absolutely amazing!!! Loving the book so far Tim. Great job and happy holidays 😀 2011 is going to be epic!
Congrats Tim – very well deserved and I hope you have continued success!
Looking forward to celebrate with you in BA! Felicitaciones!
BRAVISSIMO!!!
HOWEVER- This isn’t the end of a journey. This is just the beginning! Wait until folks start seeing the results of applying all your work!
You should consider doing a contest similar to what Bill Phillips/ ‘Body for Life’ did – and you’ll get the #1 Seller spot in 2011 & 2012 as well!
that’s great !
Have a nice loooong holiday and get back to business 🙂
Congratulations Tim! Very, very happy for you. 🙂
Once again you’ve achieved the impossible. Hope you get some well-deserved rest over the holidays, and can’t wait to read about the launch in more detail.
Really glad to have been a part of this. Cheers!
Congrats Tim!
Tim…so impressed. Plenty of folks talking game out there, others have game, you are re-creating the game. Thanks for leading the charge, and congrats!
Another number 1 New York times bestseller….?… I think so!!!
Well done Tim for everything.
congrats. enjoying the book. happy christmas!
That’s awesome…congratulations Tim.
Keep on rockin’ it…you’ve inspired my (our) business side and our physical sides. What’s next?
Tim,
I’m not going to thank you for losing 6 kg in less than two weeks, I did that myself.
I’m not going to thank you for having a more muscular body, I did that myself.
I’m not even going to thank you for getting rid of adrenal fatigue, I did that myself, too.
But man, you inspired me[1] SO much, you not only got me started actually *doing* stuff, but also gave me the inspiration and motivation to *keep* doing it! Thank you!
1st place on the NYT list? Well deserved!
[1] Not only do you write to inspire me, I also like the way you’ve thrown humour into the book.
So very well deserved!
??????????~!!
Merry Christmas and best wishes, and thanks for writing such a great book(s).
~K
Congratulations Tim! This is an awesome achievement. My 4HB goes everywhere with me and I’ve got my kettlebell ready for action (I’ve already recruited a friend to come along for the ride). Bring on the new year! Please keep up the hacking, you are my go to guy for all things outside the box. I regularly view your blog when I need a little inspiration or a reminder of how to get things done. Thank you. Wishing you a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
3 years ago I converted to Ferrissism,
I clearly knew why.
You are legen (wait for it, almost there, here it is) dary!
P.S
Charlie Hoehn is as awesome as it gets, and that’s an understatement.
Show de bola !!!!!!
Mazal Tov!
Shunit
Congrats Tim!!
I’ve been inspired by you for the umpteenth time!
You have changed the way I see the world!
Thank you so much!
Merry Christmas!
To all our success in 2011,
Brendan Benson
You worked your way onto the list. You deserve all the congrats. Please tackle EDUCATION (Mass Learning? Mass Teaching? Mass Education?) next. We need an upside-down approach to bring light to all the under-the-rug aspects of our system. Enjoying the book so far.
Congrats, Tim.
I finished reading the book the day after I got it! It is very well written and packed with good information. Unlike many of the other books below you on the best seller list, your book is well researched and documented.
You will inspire many people in the next year to make substantial changes in their health. Could you write some posts over the next few weeks about maintaining motivation? I am also interested in your idea about starting a forum. You have lots of raving fans.
Congratulations!!!!!
A fine Xmas present, I guess?
First off, Congrats. I bought your book, and read almost the entire thing. Contrary to what you say in the intro, your entire book works together as a whole, and was even more helpful in the parts I might not have read had I heeded your advice to pick and choose what to read. You deserve # 1.
But have you thought of what this aggresive campain to reach number 1 the first week might have cost you? In terms of influence and credence, the slow cooking climb often succeeds more throughly in this rather well informed society instead of quick rises to fame.
All over amazon, and other places, people question the ethics of goading people into buying large quantities of books which will likely waste away unread. Don’t you think this will take a toll on this books long term sucess?
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the kind words and fair question. Please see my response to this in another comment (perhaps on the launch day post?), but here’s the short version:
The big push for multiple copies sold less than 10K books in total, if my calculations are right. If we include all the copies of 4HB sold, including through unreported (for NYT) channels, it should be over 100K for that first week, so even without the push for multiple copies (something everyone from Seth Godin to Keith Ferrazzi have also done in various forms, usually related to books in lieu of payment for speaking engagements), the book won by virtue of single-copy sales.
The critics probably think the multiple copies had a big influence on hitting the list, which they did not. More to come soon.
Thanks!
Tim
the short version of the answer is still too long for me to follow through… but I see you sold quite a bunch of books, buddie!! ^_^
WAY TO GO!!
un abrazo desde tu Buenos Aires querido.
EDU
The short version- I sold lots of single books not many multiple books. I rock. Now watch me conquer the world 😉
I know Tim has never actually stated that last part but it is fairly accurate. 🙂
Tim,
Already following the program and just posted a review on my blog. Good stuff!!
Congratulations Tim. Enjoy your achievement and have a great Christmas and a happy new year.
Congratulations, Tim! May 2011 be the year for us all to live our dreams.
Congrats Tim. Well deserved. !Pura Vida!
Hells Yea, TF!!! You went to war and back for this book and I’m sure your 3 year journey has taught you tons, that can be another book in and of itself!!
Have a GREAT X Mas and New Yr, Brutha!!!
Grand Slam NO doubt!
Peace
–z–
That’s awesome! Congrats and Merry Christmas Tim!
As a jaded old fifty something, not many people impress me. You, Timothy, dazzle me. I have copies of your books for my fourteen year old Daughter to read when the time comes. Best wishes to you and your Family. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Steve 🙂
Merry Christmas Tim!
Apparently Santa figured you have just the right mix of naughty & nice!
I’m loving the book, and already putting a few things into practice… enjoy your well deserved holiday break.
Die Ehre ist ganz meinerseits!
Alles Gute zur Weihnachten
Christine
Hey! Congratulations, a well deserved honor! I’ve been reading the book and putting some of your ideas to practice. I’ve also been handing out a few copies to friends, and people are pretty jazzed about the book.
Complimenti!
Ciao.
Michael
Well Done Tim!
It’s refreshing to see good old fashioned content with a bit of smart marketing win out. It just proves that delivering value is still a recipe for success.
Merry Christmas,
-Tom
4HBE
Tim,
I am very happy for you. I pulled up the website just to see it myself. What a wonderful Christmas present. Congratulations in all that you have accomplished.
Sarah
Congrats Tim!
I’ve seen some bad reviews on this book on amazon, but reality shows otherwise. 9 days on the slow carb diet and already down 6lbs. Great Stuff!!!
Congratulations! There are always a few people who show up to give 1-star reviews without reading the book 🙂
Keep us posted!
Tim
Congrats for your achievement!
Just a few question though: buying multiple books is not very environment friendly. Could you please let us know you position about nature, environment and the green stuff?
I bet that promoting your book too you more than 4 hours a week! Just a pun, but really, how do you apply your own formula in such case of high promotion and so on?
Last but not least, working 4 hours a week gives you lots of free time to support different causes. In that instance, I would like to make you aware of one that i am also promoting: Talents of Afghanistan (please see the link on my profile or you can Google it as well as i can’t post link here). Would you be ready to give 1 hour per week to help promote talented artists of Afghanistan?
Thank you and well done again!
Yvan
Congratulations Tim, 4 Hour body is a great book!
Tim, happy to support you 🙂
You are so welcome! I learn a ton from you and also look forward to a great 2011. You’ve earned all the success you have achieved and I greatly appreciate how much you give back.
Congrats, Tim and happy holidays.
One more thing though. Could you explain why you didn’t cross reference increasing testosterone with adding muscle?
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Tim 🙂
This book is fantastic.
I am not a body builder or a competitive athlete by any means.
By the time I was about 20% of the way into this book, I already felt like I got my money’s worth out of it. Densely packed with facts, and down to earth -humorous at times- observations.
Gentlemen – if you like women, you need this book. You may think you don’t, but (unless you’ve been taken in hand by a very knowledgeable woman, or several) you do. I am talking about the Improving Sex section. The man knows what he is talking about. Read this book, get some love. Geeks too – you know the ladies secretly love ya!
Tim Ferriss, you are the 4-hour Mac Daddy!!! I’m sure you must have considered that as a possible title for this book!
I admire your chutzpah, your moxie, your awesome recklessness! Some people think outside the box, you continuously blow the roof off of it!
Well done.
You’re thanking us? Oh, no, Thank YOU.
You’re my inspiration. Now I’m going to do some research on increasing oxytocin formation.
Congratulations Tim and thank you for the inspiration to stop working and start living. You changed my life with the 4HWW, and if I can reverse what I thought was a permanent injury with the H4B I really won’t know how to thank you enough.
Well deserved at #1, enjoy the festivities!
-Andrew
Congrats Tim, but more than that Thank You!! You always bring the heat with solid content and for that we all love you man…
You desrve it big time!
Patrick Hitches
Fantastic accomplishment!
The ‘ship it,’ ‘selfless,’ ‘provide value’ backbone to the entire effort is astounding.
You have been a blast to follow so far.
Thanks for sharing what you love and who you are.
Glad to see it made it — well deserved — I’m on something like page 200 so far and I love it. Great job and congrats!
Congrats Tim – here’s to an excellent 2011!
Congratulations and Happy Holidays! Already on page 125. Loving the book. Such a smooth read despite the information being technical. You are a dynamic writer.
Grats Tim, you deserved it. Happy Holidays!
Congrats Tim! With all the change and weight-loss I (and so many others) are seeing, the book is definitely deserving of the #1 spot. Thank you for once again thinking out side the proverbial box and striving to change the world with your ideas.
Congratulations, Tim! You EARNED that spot.
Merry Christmas! Happy, happy, happy New Year!
xo,
Heather
Congratulations Tim, I’ve been following your advice since 2007.
Congrats AND thanks! Reading the book now. Excited to start something effective for this New Year’s resolution.
As technologically advanced as we are today, it’s interesting to see that books still matter. And you were able to round us all up by putting it all into a book. As I read through the books, I see some of your previous blog posts in there. Your blog keeps us together. Please continue doing so. And the forum you were talking about, please don’t have too many of them. Keep us in 1 place, make it easy to find information and help each other out. Congrats Tim!
Congratulations! Good things happen to good people who work hard. Loved the book, read it over the course of 2 days. Inspired me to clean my diet up, already down 5 lbs following your advice. Have a great holiday!
You’re welcome Tim.
It wasn’t all easy, but I did it for you. And don’t worry about throwing my name on the props page either, I kind of like to be anonymous… 🙂
Haha Merry Christmas brotha. Thanks for showing us all a different way to live. Appreciate all the inspiration over the years.
“The credit belongs to the man that is actually IN the arena, whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood…”
Staying tuned for more to come!
Thanks for sacrificing your body for your experiments!
Congratulations! It is an absolutely fantastic book! Well deserved 😉
Congratulations Tim. I hope to be apply your tips next September in Italy. I’ll be doing the 4 hour work week while there and now I’ve decided I’ll be doing the 4 hour Body as well.
Thanks for everything,
Rebekah
Tim,
Congratulations! I love your books. I read both of them over and over. I always talk about them and recommend them. Whenever I went to a bookstore the past couple weeks I’ve asked the cashier how 4HB has been selling that day! hahaha I feel like you’re me, just a couple steps ahead. So, of course, I’m all about your incredible success! You’re into everything that I’m into! You’re the poo, Tim! High Five. Keep doing the damn thing!
Lennie Ann
Thank YOU Tim for helping make a better ME!
Tim you have transformed my life from average to awesome in less than a year.
You helped me:
Find out about Vibram FiveFingers – best damn footwear ever
Beat chronic sinusitis with neilmed saline rinse
Avoid a “real job”
Set up a successful muse business online
Travel the world
…
Live life on my terms.
After all you have done for me Tim, buying 3 books was the least I could do to help you out. I am excited to take on the next step of transforming my body.
Here’s to Tim Ferriss not accepting the word “impossible”.
You earned this Tim, congratulations.
Great job. I bought one copy with the freebies because I couldn’t get a sense what was in it. I opened it this morning and now I would buy those additional copies for the 3x gifts, but sadly the promotion is over. How about bringing it back for 12 hours 🙂
I live in the UK and ordered my copy from Amazon.com, so a couple of weeks to read it yet. A great effort though and glad all your work has paid off.
Need to see you and Kevin Rose on Random discussing these past few weeks and your hopes for 2011.
Happy Christmas & New Year
Ed
You deserve it!
Right on! I love it!
I have both of your books and they’re my favorites. Your victory must taste really sweet right about now.
Congratulations Tim and Happy Holidays!!!
There was never a doubt in my mind that you’d do it!
I just got back from Christmas with my family, where I gave my father his very own copy of The 4-Hour Body. Sharing the love, right? I’ll bet he’s reading it right now!
I’m excited as hell for January 1st when I’ll be beginning my quest to turn this 30 year body into a 4-Hour Body. Makes me feel younger just saying it!
Cheers my friend!
-Matthew
[…] was our Mount Everest, and we reached the peak. I’m super proud of Tim, who’s been working on this forever and nearly killed himself in the process. I’m […]
Congratulations Tim. You’re such an inspiration to me; and we’re the same age. Thank you for sharing your ideas with the world. As with 4HWW, I’m eagerly implementing what I’m learning from 4HB and looking forward to the life changing results. Many more blessings to you brother.
Congrats!
Tim, way to go! We got the book a week ago- and LOVE IT! I have long said- it is not the calories but the “WHAT” that we put in our bodies- but I could not figure out what- “WHAT” was the key. Thank you for breaking it down as only “Tim Ferriss” can!
I had just let my best friend borrow the 4HWW and I texted her right away when I opened the 4HB and she is super excited to also read it!
Thanks! and CONGRATS!!! I love seeing people my age being so montivated and getting things DONE! I feel like we are friends, and cheer for you as if we share wine often!
Congratulations, Tim! Thank you for being a supreme example!
I am so glad you could join the first place.
Thank you